Coffeyville Schools: Student In Custody After Making Threat

Coffeyville school leaders prevented a possible shooting threat on the anniversary of the Columbine school shooting.

Investigators said a student threatened he was going to shoot up the school Thursday; the student is now in police custody.

School administrators said they don't want to alarm anyone and said it was essentially a 'he said she said situation' that they are taking very seriously.

According to the City of Coffeyville, police will recommend to the district attorney that they charge the student with making criminal threats.

Students leaving Coffeyville’s Field Kindley High School were seemingly unfazed after school staff discovered a possible threat by a student.

Freshman Josh Ensaldo was eating lunch when he heard about it.

"Well, most people took it as a joke, but other people were freaking out about it - asking the principals - and a lot of people ended up leaving because they were worried about it," he said.

School administrators sent us a statement saying:

"It has come to the attention of High School and district administration that a student made threats to bring a gun to the high school tomorrow, Thursday, April 20th. We take all threats of this nature very seriously. Law enforcement was called in immediately and they do have an individual in custody. No other students were implicated in the ensuing investigation. No other information is being released at this time. All students are safe and in class!"

Ensaldo's mother, Virginia, said she got the alert while she was at work.

"I thought it was the right thing to do because it's clear in the rules that you don't do that, so I think they did the right thing," she said.

She said it's been a rough week for the small town, citing the recent fatal triple shooting, and said things like this should be investigated.

4/18/2017 Related Story: Coffeyville Police Release New Details Of Fatal Triple Shooting

As for her son, he said some kids probably won't show up for school now, but he won't be one of them.

"I'm not really worried about it," he said.

The Coffeyville superintendent said the school will be open Thursday. This after threats from a student saying he was going to shoot up the school. 

The student is now in police custody, and the superintendent says they are proud of the district's quick response. 

"Whether you are a senior in high school or in kindergarten, you can't make those types of threats. We have to take all of them seriously, unfortunately, because of all the tragedies we've seen nationwide," said Dr. Craig Correl, Coffeyville Public Schools Superintendent. 

According to the City of Coffeyville, police will recommend that the district attorney charges the student with making criminal threats. 

The superintendent is also having a meeting to discuss the consequences for the student.